To FerretPaws concerning unrefrigerated vaccine:
 
>Does anyone know how long a distemper vaccine is good for if left
>unrefrigerated? I had a shipment come in from Omaha (packed in a styrofoam
>container with ice packs...) it was supposed to be delivered thursday...
>(shipped out on wednesday.  But did not arrive till Friday)..  I was not
>home. So I will recieve it from ups on Monday now. After it has sat in their
>warehouse over the weekend.  I don't know if it will still be good.  Dr.
>WIlliams...Any opinions? Thank you for your help!
 
        There are a couple of types of vaccine.  If the vaccine comes as a dried
product, and you have to add a vial of "Sterile Diluent" to reconstitute it,
it's probably still good.  We generally refrigerate freeae-dried vaccine,
although I've never been sure why.
 
        Now a lot of distemper vaccines come in a fully reconstituted, "draw it
up and shoot it" vial, full of liquid.  If the liquid is in this form, then you
probably have only 24 hours at best before it starts to lose its efficacy.
Contact the compnay, explain the problem, and they will most likely exchange it
for you, since it wasn't delivered overnight or refirgerated by UPS.  UPS is
required to refrigerate boxes so marked if they can't be delivered.
 
       Bruce Williams, DVM                 Department of Veterinary Pathology
       [log in to unmask]         Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
       (202) 782-2600/2602                 Washington, D.C.  20306-6000
[Posted in FML issue 1007]